Miss Quinn

72 ~ The Nemean Lion

Emma tore across the Mall, not daring to look behind her. She burst into the Air and Space Museum and saw Percy immediately, as he took off Annabeth's invisibility cap. She got through the admissions area and stopped next to Percy.

The main part of the museum was one huge room with rockets and airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Three levels of balconies curled around, so you could look at the exhibits from all different heights. The place wasn't crowded, just a few families and a couple of tour groups of kids, probably doing one of those holiday school trips. Emma wanted to yell at them all to leave, but she figured that would only get her arrested. She and Percy had to find Thalia and Grover and the Hunters. Any minute, the skeletons were going to invade the museum, and Emma didn't think they would settle for an audio tour.

Percy ran into Thalia—literally. He and Emma were barreling up the ramp to the top-floor balcony and Percy slammed into her, knocking her into an Apollo space capsule.

Grover yelped in surprise.

Before Percy could regain his balance, Zoe and Bianca had arrows notched, aimed at my chest. Their bows had just appeared out of nowhere, like Emma's.

When Zoe realized who Percy was, she didn't seem anxious to lower her bow. "You! How dare you show thy face here?"

"Percy! Emma!" Grover said. "Thank goodness."

Zoe glared at him, and he blushed. "I mean, um, gosh. You're not supposed to be here!"

"Luke," Emma said, trying to catch her breath. "He's here."

The anger in Thalia's eyes immediately melted. She put her hand on her silver bracelet. "Where?"

Percy and Emma told them about the Natural History Museum, Dr. Thorn, Luke, and the General.

"The General is here?" Zoe looked stunned. "That is impossible! You lie."

"Why would I lie? Look, there's no time. Skeleton warriors—"

"What?" Thalia demanded. "How many?"

"Twelve," Emma said. "And that's not all. That guy, the General, he said he was sending something, a 'playmate,' to distract you over here. A monster."

Thalia and Grover exchanged looks.

"We were following Artemis's trail," Grover said. "I was pretty sure it led here. Some powerful monster scent... She must've stopped here looking for the mystery monster. But we haven't found anything yet."

"Zoe," Bianca said nervously, "if it is the General—"

"It cannot be!" Zoe snapped. "Percy and Emma must have seen an Iris-message or some other illusion."

"Illusions don't crack marble floors," Percy told her.

Zoe took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Emma didn't know why she was taking it so personally, or how she knew this General guy, but she figured now wasn't the time to ask. "If Percy is telling the truth about the skeleton warriors," Zoe said, "we have no time to argue. They are the worst, the most horrible... We must leave now."

"Good idea," Percy said.

"I was not including thee, boy," Zoe said. "You are not part of this quest."

"Hey, I'm trying to save your lives!"

"And you only have four people on this quest. The oracle said five," Emma said.

"You two make six...." Bianca pointed out quietly.

"You shouldn't have come, Percy and Emma," Thalia said grimly. "But you're here now. Come on. Let's get back to the van."